Frame member for collapsible structure



Sept. 29, 1970 J. T. BURTON I FRAME MEMBER FOR COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURE IFiled April 21, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN THOMAS BURTON 'Fiied'April21, 1969 p 197.0 J. 'r. BURTON 3,530,623

FRAME MEMBER FOR COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Inventor I IJOHN THOMAS BURTON United States Patent US. Cl. 52-86 9 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable arch-shaped frame for use with apermanently anchored track means in a plurality of temporary collapsiblestructures of various widths having two side portions and a roof portionhaving a pair of universal side frame sections with upper and lower endsforming the side portions and part of the roof portion of the structure,a removable top frame section forming the intermediate portion of theroof portion of the structure between the upper ends of the side framesections, carriage means on the lower ends of the side frame sectionsengaging the track means to support the frame movably at its lower ends,connecting means connected at the junction between each said top framesection and the upper ends of the side frame sections for joining sameto the top frame section in alignment whereby the widths of thestructures may be varied by substituting top frame sections of differentlengths.

The invention relates to a collapsible temporary structure for use as acover for swimming pools and the like and more particularly to a novelframe member which has replaceable sections which permit the adjustmentof the size of the structure to the required size of the pool byremoving one section and replacing it with a new section.

This invention relates to a collapsible temporary structure as disclosedin United States Letters Patent No. 3,361,144 dated Jan. 2, 1968 andUnited States Letters Patent 3,469,587, dated Sept. 30, 1969 in the nameof David Folkes entitled Collapsible Weatherproof Cover for SwimmingPools. The installation of such collapsible temporary structures issimple and economical to build and is readily assembled on the site tobe collapsible and erectible by a home owner. The known frame memberscomprise two generally arch-shaped hoops welded together at the upperend to provide the support required. Thus for any one size of pool itwas required to shape the hoops or frame members to a predetermined sizeso as to provide the support required. This also required a considerableamount of work on the site in assembling the frame members and increasedthe cost of the temporary structure.

This invention provides a novel frame member to be used in the structurecomprising two universal side frame sections which form the sideportions and part of the roof portions of all the structures that can beenvisioned to be built joined together at their upper ends by a topframe section which forms the intermediate portion of the roof portion.The same side frame sections can be used for any size of pool. Thedifferent sizes of top frame section have similar connecting meansthereon and the upper ends of the side frame sections are easilyconnected thereto for easy assembly of the frame member on site.

When assembling the previously known frame structures, the upper endswere welded together at the center of the frame member and the alignmentof these frame sections was critical. This often involved a fair amountof time in their assembly. With the novel frame member, the side framesections are easily assembled with the top frame section on the sitewith novel connecting means having predrilled holes therethrough. Holesare drilled through the side frame sections at the site to pass boltsthrough the aligned holes to connect and align the sections together.When assembled, the side frame sections may be easily welded to the topsection, if desired.

It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible temporarystructure which is simple in construction and easily assembled on thesite.

It is another object of this invention to provide a collapsibletemporary structure wherein a novel frame member is constructed insections and novel connecting means are provided for connecting theframe sections together to form frames of different sizes.

It is another object of this invention to provide a collapsibletemporary structure wherein a novel frame member is constructed in threesections; a pair of universal side frame sections and a removable topframe section joined to the side frame sections by novel connectingmeans to permit easy assembly of the frame members on the site.

It is another object of this invention to provide a collapsibletemporary structure wherein a novel frame member is constructed insections and novel connecting means are provided which permit connectingthe frame sections in alignment easily.

The foregoing and other advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention whichis here given by way of example only with reference to the followingdrawings, in which like reference devices refer to like parts thereofthroughout the various views and diagrams, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a frame member used to make thecollapsible temporary structure;

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the connecting means at one end of thehorizontal frame section;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the circle 3 in FIG. 1 showing theconnecting means at one end of the horizontal frame section;

FIG. 4 is a section view along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged prespective exploded view of the detailshown in the circle 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line 66 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lower end of the vertical framemember associated with a ground rail.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown an arch-shaped frame member for a collapsible temporary structuregenerally indicated as 10. The structure comprises a plurality ofgenerally arch-shaped hoops or frame members 10 which are arranged andbraced to provide supports for a series of stirp-like plastic panels(not shown) so as to provide a generally arch-shaped canopy structure. Apluarlity of attachment lugs 11 are welded at different positions to theframe member 10 to permit horizontally extending brace struts 12 (shownin FIG. 7) to be connected between adjacent frame members 10 as will bemore clearly described later.

Each frame member 10 comprises two universal side frame sections 13 and14 which form the side portions and part of the roof portion of thestructure and a top frame section 15 which defines the intermediateportion of the roof portion of the structure. The top frame section 15has two ends 16 and 17 each with a pair of connecting plates 18 and 19respectively which are used to connect the top frame section 15 to upperends 20 and 21 of the side frame sections 14 and 13 respectively as willbe described hereinafter. Lower ends 22 and 23 of the side framesections 14 and 13 respectively are each provided with a leg 24 and acarriage member 25 which is movably supported in a permanently anchoredtrack means 26, best shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. The track means 26comprises a rectangular channel-shaped rail 27 having two side wallsspaced apart suflicient to receive the carriage means 25 therebetweenthe retaining flanges 28 and 29 on the side walls defining a restrictedopen slot 30 having a width greater than the thickness of the leg 24while still retaining the carriage means 25 against displacement fromthe track means 26. Attachment lugs 31 on the track means 26 are used topermanently anchor the track means 26 to a plank (not shown) or to anyother securing means desired. Each leg 24 is dimensioned to fit slidablybetween the flanges 28 and 29 in slot 30 and the carriage member 25which is a skid means with a greater length than width with the endsangled upwards, is adapted to slide along the inside of the track means26 while having a width greater than the slot 30 between the flanges 28and 29 to prevent the skid means 25 from coming out of the track means26.

The side frame sections 13 and 14 are bent in substantially arch-likeshape and comprise outer and inner structural frame members 32 and 33.The upper ends 20 and 22 of the outer and inner frame members 32 and 33of the frame member 14 are welded or otherwise secured in place as arethe upper ends 21 and lower ends 23 of the outer and inner frame members32 and 33 of the frame member 13. The outer and inner frame members 32and 33 are preferably reinforced at five locations with transverse trussbraces 34 which are welded or otherwise secured in place. The trussbraces 34 provide the maximum support necessary for the side framesections 13 and 14 to support any load thereon. The frame members 32 and33 each are preferably made from channel-shaped members having twospaced apart side walls with two retaining flanges 37 and 38 on the sidewalls.

Each top frame section 15 comprises outer and inner structural framemembers 35 and 36 being triangular in shape and welded or otherwisesecured together at the ends 16 and 17 of the base of the triangle. Onlythe end 16 is shown and described in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. The end 17 isidentical and will not be described herein. The frame member 35 formsthe two sides of the triangle and the frame member 36 is a horizontalrestraining member and forms the base of the triangle. The frame members35 and 36 each are preferably made from channel-shaped members havingtwo spaced apart side walls with two retaining flanges 37 and 38 on theside walls.

A pair of connecting plates 18 and 19 are welded to the outer surfacesof the side walls of the channels 35 and 36 at each end 16 and 17 of thehorizontal frame section 15. Each connecting plate 18 or 19 ispreferably trapezoidal in shape having a top edge 39 approximatelyaligned with the retaining flanges 37 and 38 of the channel 35. Eachconnecting plate 18 or 19 has three transverse holes 40, 41 and 42 forpassing bolts 43 therethrough as will be described later.

Inserted inside the channels 35 and 36 are channelshaped connectingmembers 44 and 45. As shown best in FIG. 4, the connecting members 44and 45 are frictionally engaged with the inner walls of the framemembers 35 and 36. Ends 46 and 47 of the connecting members 44 and 45respectively extend out of the ends of the frame members 35 and 36 andare inserted in the upper ends of the frame members 32 and 33 of theside frame section 13 or 14 to assemble the top frame section 15 to theside frame section 13 and 14. The connecting members 44 and 45 arepositioned between each pair of connecting plates 18 and 19 on each endwith spaces 48 and 49 between the outer surface of the connectingmembers 45 and 46 and the inside surface of the connecting plates 18 or19. The connecting members 44 and 45 are preferably dimensioned to befrictionally engaged on the inside walls of the channels 32 and 33 ofthe side frame section 13 or 14. The channels 32 and 33 are inserted onthe ends 46 and 47 of the connecting members 44 and respectively andabut on the ends of the channels 35 and 36 between the connecting plates18 or 19.

The connecting members 44 and 45 are positioned in the channels 35 and36 of the top frame section 15 in such a manner that the end 47 of theconnecting member 45 extends further out than the end 46 of theconnecting member 44. As shown best in FIG. 5, the end of the channel 32extends past the end of the channel 33 when they are passed over theconnecting members 45 and 46 respectively. Once the side frame sections13 and 14 are assembled and aligned with the top frame section 15,transverse holes (shown in FIG. 4) are drilled through the side walls ofthe channels 32 and 33 and connecting members 44 and 45 which arealigned with the predrilled transverse holes 40, 41 and 42 in theconnecting plates 18 or 19. Bolts 43 are then passed through the holes40, 41 and 42 to secure the side frame section 13 or 14 to the top framesection 15. Each bolt has a head 50, a shank 51 and a threaded end 52onto which screws a nut 53. Washers 54 are placed between the head andthe outer surface of the connecting plate 18 on one side and the nut 53and the outer surface of the connecting plate 18 on the opposite side.

Frame members 10 are linked together with one another by a series ofbrace struts 12 hingedly mounted to adjacent frame members 10 at spacedapart intervals along the arch-shape thereof. As shown best in FIG. 7,the brace struts 12 consist of a pair of horizontal strut portions 55and 56 extending between adjacent frame members 10. The adjacent freeends of the strut portions 55 and 56 have a chamfered edge 57 andopposite ends adjacent the frame members 10 are pivotally mounted on theattachment lugs 11 by pins or bolts 58. The strut portions 55 and 56 areconnected together by means of an intermediate channel portion 59 beingchannel-shaped with parallel side plates extending therefrom and lyingalong and around the strut portions 55 and 56. The intermediate channelportion 59 is separately hinged to each of the strut portions 55 and 56by pins or bolts 60 and 61 respectively, and is movable in a directionshown by an arrow 62 in FIG. 7 to disengage the strut portions 55 and 56from the locked position.

The use and method of assembly of the collapsible temporary structurewith the frame members is as follows:

The side frame sections 13 and 14 and the top frame members 15 areprepared at the factory and shipped to the site to be assembled. Theconnecting plates 18 and 19 are already welded to the side walls of thechannel members 35 and 36 of the top frame section 15. The connectingmembers 44 and 45 are inserted into the ends of the channel members 35and 36.

At the site, the side frame sections 13 and 14 are assembled to the topframe section 15 by inserting the free ends 46 and 47 of the connectingmembers 44 and 45 into the upper ends of the channel members 32 and 33.The ends of the adjacent channel members are placed in contact. Thisassembling of the frame sections aligns the frame member 10. Then holesare drilled through the channel members and connecting members alignedwith the pre-drilled holes 40, 41 and 42 in the connecting plates 18 and19.

Bolts 43 are passed through the drilled holes and nuts 53 are tightenedon the threaded end to secure the channel members 32 and 33 to theconnecting plates 18 and 19. The frame member 10 is now ready to beassembled in the collapsible frame structure.

A number of the frame members 10 are joined together to form the framestructure. The skids 25 are inserted into the track 26 and the bracestruts 12 are connected to the lugs 11 on the side frame sections 13 and14 to support the frame members 10 in the upright position. The adjacentframe members 10 are moved into their full extended position by simplydrawing the skid members 25 along the Sliding channels 26 and the strutportions 55 and 56 are forced into their extended position, as shown insolid lines in FIG. 7. The chamfered edges 57 of the strut portions 55and 56 permit the strut portions 55 and 56 to be locked in theirextended position by the intermediate channel portion 59. Collapsing ofthe struc ture may be affected by applying pressure in a direction shownby the arrow 62 in FIG. 7 in the region of the intermediate channelportion 59 causing disengagement of the strut portions 55 and 56 fromthe intermediate channel portion 59, as shown in dotted lines, andthereafter pushing the released frame member towards the next adjacentframe member. When all the frame members 10 have been connectedtogether, the strip-like plastic panels (not shown) are attached to theframe members 10 to form the collapsible temporary structure.

To erect a frame structure it will be noted that for any size pool, thesame side frame sections 13 and 14 may be used as only the length of thetop frame section 15 need be changed to give the frame member 10 withthe desired width. The side frame sections 13 and 14 forming the sideportions and part of the roof structure are identical and can be used oneither side of the frame member 10 thus providing for easy assembly ofeach frame member 10.

When assembling the frame members 10 on the site, the novel frame member10 described herein permits easy assembly of the side frame sections 13and 14 to the removable top frame section 15. The connecting members 44and 45 provide a means for easily aligning adjacent channels on the sideframe sections 13 or 14 with the top frame section 15. It is onlynecessary to drill holes through the assembled channels and connectingmembers which are aligned with the predrilled holes 40, 41 and 42 topass the bolts 43 therethrough to form the frame member 10.

The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention only. The invention is not to be taken as limited to any ofthe specific features described but comprehends all such variations ascome within the spirit and scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. An adjustable arch-shaped frame for use with a permanently anchoredtrack means in a plurality of temporary collapsible structures ofvarious widths having two side portions and a roof portion, said framecomprising:

a pair of universal side frame sections formed in part of rectangulartubular channel construction having a continuous slotted opening alongone side thereof and having upper and lower ends and adapted to form theside portions and part of the roof portion of the structure;

a removable top frame section formed in part of similar rectangulartubular channel construction having a continuous slotted opening alongone side thereof adapted to form the intermediate portion of the roofportion of the structure between said upper ends of said frame sections;

carriage means on said lower ends of said side frame sections adapted toengage said track means to support said frame movably at its lower ends;

means retaining said carriage means against displacement of saidcarriage means from the track means; and

rectangular, sliding shaft connecting means connected at the junctionbetween each said top frame section and said upper ends of said sideframe sections adapted to make telescoping interfitting engagementtherebetween and having an opening along one side adapted to align withsaid slotted openings in said frame members for joining same togetherwith said rectangular tubular channel portions in alignment whereby thewidths of the structure may be varied by substituting top frame sectionsof different lengths.

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side frame sections areformed of a pair of curved channelshaped members having side wallsspaced apart and retaining flanges on said side walls defining saidcontinuous slot therebetween, and a plurality of spaced apart transversestress braces connected between said channel members at an intermediateportion thereof and said channel members being secured together at theirends.

3. A frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top frame section isformed of a pair of channel-shaped members having side walls spacedapart and retaining flanges on said side walls defining said singlecontinuous slot therebetween being secured together at their ends.

4. A frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprisechannel members with spaced apart side walls connected at each end ofsaid top frame section and adapted to be inserted in said upper ends ofsaid side frame sections, and a plurality of nut and bolt combinationssecuring said connecting means and said side frame sections to said topframe section.

5. A frame as claimed in claim 1, including a pair of connecting platessecured at each end of said top frame section to provide a space betweeneach plate and said connecting members at each end of said top framesections to receive said upper ends of said side frame sectionstherebetween.

6. A frame as claimed in claim 1, including a pair of connecting plateswith a plurality of pre-drilled aligned holes therethrough secured ateach end of said top frame section; said connecting means and said upperend of each of said side frame sections having a plurality of predrilledholes therethrough aligned with said holes in said connecting plates;and a plurality of nut and bolt combinations adapted to be passedthrough said aligned holes for joining said upper ends of said sideframe sections to said top frame section in alignment.

7. A frame as claimed in claim 1, including collapsible strut meansconnected between adjacent said frames and extensible to support thesame.

8. A frame as claimed in claim 1, including collapsible strut meansconnected between adjacent said frames and extensible to support thesame; and locking means on said strut means to hold the same in theirextended position.

9. A frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said car riage means comprisesa skid means having a greater length than width with ends angledupwards.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,621,484 3/1927 Price 49-4092,612,854 10/1952 Fuge 52644 X 3,361,144 1/1968 Folkes 1 3,424,1791/1969 Minot 135-3 FOREIGN PATENTS 483,145 1952 Canada. 865,711 1941France.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

